Fort Simpson & Fort Liard, 6/22 & 23/2014

Nearing the Deh Cho Bridge. Cost $185 million to construct. 8 years of planning, 4 years of construction.

It is the longest joint-less bridge in North America. 3,428 ft. Steel armored piers to resist ice break up damage.

The bridge marks the end of a long history of ferry and ice road transport across the MacKenzie River. Interesting to hear the people in Yellowknife talk about traveling on the ice roads. It's very important in this remote area to fill up our fuel tank whenever we see a station. We've been able to use credit card each time. On the credit card statement it posts the price 7% lower price because of the exchange rate. The highest we paid for diesel is $5.60/gal. We filled up with fuel before traveling remote Hwy. 1.

Sambaa Deh Falls over the Trout River.

A young couple seems to be washing their clothes in the river.

Breathtaking water water rushing thought this gorge.

At Sambba Deh Falls Territorial park the host was a wealth of information. He talked about the forest fires of last year and that he had to evacuate. Also told about a bear being on his home's roof hugging the chimney. Told about his wife's family being mountain people. They made the mooseskin boats we saw at the Historic Centre in Yellowknife. But spruce boats were faster to make.

He told about people picking morel mushrooms. We saw lots of cars parked along the road.

This might be a couple with their bucket of mushrooms. You get a good look at the gravel road of Hwy. 1. No, that's not snow but bugs spots on the windshield.

There are locations that the pickers take their harvest to. They get $10/pound. When cleaned and dried the mushrooms sell for $100/pound.

Along the side of the road we saw a black bear eating. As we took pictures he crossed over the road.

We crossed the Liard River on a free ferry.

Our landing.

We stayed at Fort Simpson Heritage Park. A relief to get off the gravel roads. The campground is woodsy but mosquitos and more of those big flies that are so aggressive. So we don't spend much time standing still. When talking to other campers we keep moving or get the bug spray on. Another day of adventure even those it was mostly driving.

(387 miles, about 100 miles of gravel which means driving between 35 to 45 mph.)

On the road again Monday June 23

To the Papal Grounds at Fort Simpson.

Pope Paul John II was scheduled to visit this remote area in 1984 but it was too foggy for him to land. He promised he would come another time. In 1987 he did.